AHL Quick Hits

LOOKING BACK:
In Wednesday’s action, Nigel Dawes tallied a hat trick and Alex Henry notched the game-winner in overtime as Hamilton edged Milwaukee, 5-4… John Mitchell’s goal in the final minute sent Connecticut past Springfield, 3-2… Marc-Antoine Pouliot recorded a game-high three points (1-2-3) in Norfolk’s 6-1 win over Hershey… Houston scored six power play goals en route to an 8-1 pounding of Rockford… Matt Watkins scored twice as San Antonio topped Abbotsford, 3-2.

Wed 3/2
HAMILTON 5, Milwaukee 4 (OT)
CONNECTICUT 3, Springfield 2
NORFOLK 6, Hershey 1
SAN ANTONIO 3, Abbotsford 2
HOUSTON 8, Rockford 1

Thu 3/3
No games scheduled


LOOKING AHEAD:
Looking to solidify its playoff position in the North Division, Manitoba continues an 11-game road trip this weekend with visits to Peoria, Milwaukee, and Chicago… The Moose, who enter the weekend two points out of first place but just two points from falling out of the playoffs entirely, are beginning a stretch of 11 straight games against non-divisional opponents… Manitoba has managed just four goals in its last four outings but shows a 2-2-0-0 mark in that span, with a pair of 1-0 victories… Bill Sweatt has tallied two of those four goals, including the only score in Sunday’s 1-0 win at Toronto… Sergei Shirokov continues to lead Manitoba in goals (17) and points (43) but has just one goal in his last 17 games… Defenseman Mark Flood shows six points (1-5-6) in three match-ups with Peoria this season, all wins for the Moose… This marks Manitoba’s first visit to Peoria since taking a 4-3 decision on opening night, Oct. 8… The Rivermen are just 3-5-0-0 in their last eight outings but are coming off a 6-5 overtime win over Chicago on Tuesday… Peoria forward T.J. Hensick is tied for third in the AHL in assists (41) and ranks fifth in points (59) in just 50 contests.

San Antonio takes its mini two-game winning streak into Cedar Park tonight to battle Texas, which sits just one point up on the Rampage for a share of third place in the West Division standings… The Rampage, who are just 1-4-0-0 in their last five road contests, have posted a 3-3-2-0 mark against the Stars this season… Matt Watkins has registered three goals and four points in his last four games for the Rampage, and Ned Lukacevic comes in with three points (1-2-3) in his last three outings… San Antonio goaltender Matt Climie (22-16-0, 2.46, .921), who backstopped Texas to the 2010 Calder Cup Finals, has made 10 straight starts and ranks fifth in the AHL in saves (1,058)… Texas is winless in five consecutive games but has earned a point in three of the five tilts (0-2-1-2)… Leading scorer Greg Rallo (19-19-38), who is one goal shy of a career-best 20, has posted 4-3-7 in eight meetings with San Antonio… Aaron Gagnon has collected five assists in five games since returning from parent-club Dallas… Texas is 21-6-2-2 when scoring the first goal; San Antonio has scored first a league-low 22 times (15-6-1-0).

Charlotte, which is 12-6-0-1 against the Atlantic Division this year, heads north for weekend games in Providence, Worcester, and Manchester… The Checkers are riding a six-game points streak (4-0-0-2) and sit just four points back of second-place Hershey in the East Division… Rookie Zac Dalpe, who leads AHL rookies with 43 points (18-25-43) in 43 games, has recorded seven points (2-5-7) in his last five contests… Ethan Graham is on a four-game assist streak (0-5-5), while Drayson Bowman’s four-game goal-scoring run (4-2-6) ended in the Checkers’ 1-0 win over Connecticut last Saturday… Checkers goaltender Mike Murphy finished 7-0-1 with two shutouts in eight appearances during February… Providence, which comes in nine points out of a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, split a two-game visit to Abbotsford last weekend… Rookie Maxime Sauve had three goals in the two games, and former first-rounder Zach Hamill shows 2-4-6 in seven games since returning from an NHL stint in Boston… The Bruins will play 11 of their last 19 games on home ice, where they are 11-15-1-2 this year.

(all times Eastern)

Fri 3/4
Norfolk @ Albany, 7:00
W-B/Scranton @ Toronto, 7:00
Rochester @ Grand Rapids, 7:00
Charlotte @ Providence, 7:05
Manchester @ Worcester, 7:30
Rockford @ Lake Erie, 7:30
Manitoba @ Peoria, 8:05
Abbotsford @ Oklahoma City, 8:05
San Antonio @ Texas, 8:30
Milwaukee @ Chicago, 8:30
Syracuse @ Houston, 8:35

Sat 3/5
Toronto @ Hamilton, 4:00
Adirondack @ Albany, 5:00
Connecticut @ Springfield, 7:00
Bridgeport @ Portland, 7:00
Charlotte @ Worcester, 7:00
Norfolk @ Hershey, 7:00
Rochester @ Grand Rapids, 7:00
Rockford @ Lake Erie, 7:30
Syracuse @ San Antonio, 8:00
Houston @ Texas, 8:00
Chicago @ Peoria, 8:05
Abbotsford @ Oklahoma City, 8:05
Manitoba @ Milwaukee, 8:30

Sun 3/6
Hamilton @ Toronto, 1:00
Albany @ Adirondack, 3:00
Charlotte @ Manchester, 3:00
Connecticut @ Worcester, 3:00
Springfield @ Portland, 4:00
Manitoba @ Chicago, 4:00
Bridgeport @ Providence, 4:05
W-B/Scranton @ Hershey, 5:00
Norfolk @ Binghamton, 5:05
Abbotsford @ Houston, 6:05

Mon 3/7
Syracuse @ Texas, 12:00

Tue 3/8
Hershey @ Portland, 6:30
Binghamton @ Charlotte, 7:00
Rockford @ Toronto, 7:00
Connecticut @ W-B/Scranton, 7:05
Manitoba @ Oklahoma City, 8:05
Grand Rapids @ Peoria, 8:05


ALUMNI WATCH:
Recalled from AHL Houston earlier in the day, Casey Wellman scored the game-winner for his first NHL goal of the season as Minnesota dropped the N.Y. Rangers, 3-1… Rookie Colin Greening nabbed his first career NHL goal and 2011 AHL All-Star Game MVP Bobby Butler also scored in Ottawa’s 3-1 win at Atlanta… Rookie Blake Geoffrion broke a scoreless tie 1:59 into the third period, and Nashville went on to a 3-0 victory at league-leading Vancouver.


BY THE NUMBERS:
5 — Road games which will remain for Milwaukee after making its last visit of the year to Chicago tonight… The Admirals, who are 16-6-2-3 at home, close the season by playing 13 of their last 18 games at the Bradley Center.


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